The Comedy of Errors Part 11

I should have chid you for not bringing it, 50 But, like a shrew, you first begin to brawl.

_Sec. Mer._ The hour steals on; I pray you, sir, dispatch.

_Ang._ You hear how he importunes me;--the chain!

_Ant. E._ Why, give it to my wife, and fetch your money.

_Ang._ Come, come, you know I gave it you even now. 55 Either send the chain, or send me by some token.

_Ant. E._ Fie, now you run this humour out of breath.

Come, where's the chain? I pray you, let me see it.

_Sec. Mer._ My business cannot brook this dalliance.

Good sir, say whether you'll answer me or no: 60 If not, I'll leave him to the officer.

_Ant. E._ I answer you! what should I answer you?

_Ang._ The money that you owe me for the chain.

_Ant. E._ I owe you none till I receive the chain.

_Ang._ You know I gave it you half an hour since. 65

_Ant. E._ You gave me none: you wrong me much to say so.

_Ang._ You wrong me more, sir, in denying it: Consider how it stands upon my credit.

_Sec. Mer._ Well, officer, arrest him at my suit.

_Off._ I do; and charge you in the duke's name to obey me. 70

_Ang._ This touches me in reputation.

Either consent to pay this sum for me, Or I attach you by this officer.

_Ant. E._ Consent to pay thee that I never had!

Arrest me, foolish fellow, if thou darest. 75

_Ang._ Here is thy fee; arrest him, officer.

I would not spare my brother in this case, If he should scorn me so apparently.

_Off._ I do arrest you, sir: you hear the suit.

_Ant. E._ I do obey thee till I give thee bail. 80 But, sirrah, you shall buy this sport as dear As all the metal in your shop will answer.

_Ang._ Sir, sir, I shall have law in Ephesus, To your notorious shame; I doubt it not.

_Enter _DROMIO of Syracuse_, from the bay._

_Dro. S._ Master, there is a bark of Epid.a.m.num 85 That stays but till her owner comes aboard, And then, sir, she bears away. Our fraughtage, sir, I have convey'd aboard; and I have bought The oil, the balsamum, and aqua-vitae.

The s.h.i.+p is in her trim; the merry wind 90 Blows fair from land: they stay for nought at all But for their owner, master, and yourself.

_Ant. E._ How now! a madman! Why, thou peevish sheep, What s.h.i.+p of Epid.a.m.num stays for me?

_Dro. S._ A s.h.i.+p you sent me to, to hire waftage. 95

_Ant. E._ Thou drunken slave, I sent thee for a rope, And told thee to what purpose and what end.

_Dro. S._ You sent me for a rope's end as soon: You sent me to the bay, sir, for a bark.

_Ant. E._ I will debate this matter at more leisure, 100 And teach your ears to list me with more heed.

To Adriana, villain, hie thee straight: Give her this key, and tell her, in the desk That's cover'd o'er with Turkish tapestry There is a purse of ducats; let her send it: 105 Tell her I am arrested in the street, And that shall bail me: hie thee, slave, be gone!

On, officer, to prison till it come.

[_Exeunt Sec. Merchant, Angelo, Officer, and Ant. E._

_Dro. S._ To Adriana! that is where we dined, Where Dowsabel did claim me for her husband: 110 She is too big, I hope, for me to compa.s.s.

Thither I must, although against my will, For servants must their masters' minds fulfil. [_Exit._

NOTES: IV, 1.

8: _growing_] _owing_ Pope.

12: _Pleaseth you_] Ff. _Please you but_ Pope. _Please it you_ Anon. conj.

14: _may you_] F1 F2 F3. _you may_ F4.

17: _her_] Rowe. _their_ Ff. _these_ Collier MS.

26: _and_] om. Pope.

28: _carat_] Pope. _charect_ F1. _Raccat_ F2 F3 F4. _caract_ Collier.

29: _chargeful_] _charge for_ Anon. conj.

41: _time enough_] _in time_ Hanmer.

46: _stays_] _stay_ Pope.

_this_] F1. _the_ F2 F3 F4.

47: _to blame_] F3. _too blame_ F1 F2 F4.

53: _the chain!_] Dyce. _the chain,_ Ff. _the chain--_ Johnson.

56: _Either_] _Or_ Pope.

_me by_] _by me_ Heath conj.

60: _whether_] _whe'r_ Ff. _where_ Rowe. _if_ Pope.

62: _what_] F1. _why_ F2 F3 F4.

67: _more_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4.

70: Printed as verse by Capell.

73: _this_] F1. _the_ F2 F3 F4.

74: _thee_] F1. om. F2 F3 F4. _for_ Rowe.

85: SCENE II. Pope.

_there is_] Pope. _there's_ Ff.

87: _And then, sir,_] F1. _Then, sir,_ F2 F3 F4. _And then_ Capell.

_she_] om. Steevens.

88: _bought_] F1. _brought_ F2 F3 F4.

98: _You sent me_] _A rope! You sent me_ Capell.

_You sent me, Sir,_ Steevens.